Technical Oil Cooler

[ratty99]

Hi, I had the heat shield changed today, the old one was absolute toast, in bits, basically made out of tin foil, extraordinary.

Anyway, as part of that, the small oil cooler has developed a leak, on investigation, the metal pipes that feed are rotten, does anyone know if the can be replaced or repaired, or alternatively where i can get a new cooler?

I have check barchetta parts, they have one but it doesn't look in great condition.

Also, the mechanic has just removed it for now, any ideas if this will lead to short term problems?

Cheers
Mark

 

[s130]

You didn't give real vehicle/engine specifics but looking on ePER (Fiats offical parts list) a new item from Fiat will be in excess of £340 (UK pounds). This is a ludicrous price.

Non model specific part numbers are: 60610797 60811326 60816912

I would suggest you web search these numbers to see what comes up.

Your alternatives are:

1) Remove the unit
2) Fit a sandwich plate and small external cooler
3) In conjunction with 1 fit an oil temperature gauge

The orignal advantage of fitting the water cooled/stabilised unit was to heat oil up the engine water temperature as quickly as possible (fuel economy) and cool the oil to water temperature.

On the "B" additional oil cooling is really only going to be required if you really thrash your engine or are in extreme climate conditions.

Of course the original design attempts to cover both the low temperature and high temperature environments.

For motor sport thrashed engines then one would/should remove the water/oil heater/cooler and replace with an external air cooled heat exchanger where you can get far improved temperature differentials and surface area cooling.

 

[ratty99]

Brilliant reply thanks, at the moment it's removed, I've ordered and second hand one from an Alfa specialist for 35£, so will fit it when it's here.